Bracket assembly for use as an adjustable rear drawer slide bracket and the like

ABSTRACT

A mounting member adapted for rearward mounting against a mounting surface has a longitudinally elongated, rectangular groove formed in a rearward surface opening rearwardly and a bracket opening of reduced longitudinal dimensions forwardly therethrough within the groove. A bracket member has a rectangular, rearward slide portion of reduced longitudinal dimensions slidably positioned in the mounting member groove with a bracket portion positioned projecting forwardly through the bracket opening of less longitudinal dimensions than the bracket opening to permit longitudinal slideable movement of the bracket member within the mounting member groove. Selectively flexibly releasable, inter-engaged flanges project transversely between the bracket and mounting member permitting and guiding the relative longitudinal movement therebetween while resisting rearward movement of the bracket member from the mounting member groove.

Aug. 7, 1973 United States Patent [1 1 Read Primary ExaminerJ. Franklin Foss Thomas P. Mahoney, George E. Schick ABSTRACT [75] Inventor: George Read, Glendora, Calif Ajax Hardware Manufacturing [73] Assignee:

A mounting member adapted for rearward mounting Corporation, City of Industry, Calif.

against a mounting surface has a longitudinally elon- Jan. 24, 1972 gated, rectangular groove formed in a rearward surface [22] Filed:

pp Nu: 220 I18 opening rearwardly and a bracket opening of reduced longitudinal dimensions forwardly therethrough within the groove A bracket member has a rectangular. rear- [S2] 11..4. (II. 248/298, 3l2/343 [51 Int.

ward slide portion of reduced longitudinal dimensions A47h /00 slidably positioned in the mounting member groove with a bracket portion positioned projecting forwardly through the bracket opening of less longitudinal dimensions than the bracket opening to permit longitudinal slideable movement of the bracket member within the 3 4 7 3 m 3 2 L0 5 5 B H 4 e, 5 m4 4 m 2 9 2 0 0 m9 2 5 6 HQ k 4 2 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS mounting member groove. Selectively flexibly releasable, inter-engaged flanges project transversely be- Holmes...........,...................

Fremstad et al. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS n e t u B 084 746 999 I11 989 35 ll 589 744 323 between while resisting rearward movement of the bracket member from the mounting member groove.

681,170 lO/l952 Great Britainr....,................292/147 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures BRACKET ASSEMBLY FOR USE AS AN ADJUSTABLE REAR DRAWER SLIDE BRACKET AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a bracket assembly for use as an adjustable rear drawer slide bracket and the like and more particularly, to a bracket assembly for mounting and supporting the rearward end of a drawer slide, the drawer slide in turn, guiding forward and rearward slideable movements of conventional drawers. Even more particularly, this invention relates to such a rear drawer slide bracket assembly which is of the limited self-alignment type and includes an improved slideable inter-engagement between cooperating parts of the assembly providing distinct advantages in both original manufacture and later use so as to ensure a maximum of efficiency in the intended functioning thereof.

Various forms of bracket assemblies for use as rear drawer slide brackets have heretofore been provided for retaining the rearward ends of the usual drawer slides and maintain said drawer slides positioned properly guiding the forward and rearward movements of drawers during the opening and closing thereof. Furthermore, the prior bracket assemblies may be segregated into two general classes, those which after exact alignment are mounted secured stationary in a final mounted position to rigidly retain the drawer slide ends during drawer movement, and those which are aligned and permanently secured transversely or vertically relative to the drawer slide ends, but are constructed to permit limited movement longitudinally or horizontally of the drawer slide ends during drawer movement. It is with this latter limited free floating form or limited freely adjustable form with which the present invention is concerned.

With the limited freely adjustable forms of bracket assemblies, a mounting member is provided normally rearwardly secured to a frame .portion at the rearward end of the drawer and this mounting member, in turn, slideably mounts a bracket member to which the rear: ward end of thedrawer slide is attached. The mounting member is rigidly secured to the drawer frame and the bracket member is longitudinally or horizontally slideable thereon forlimited slideable movement to thereby permit the rearward end of the drawer slide to move limited distances horizontally during the drawer forward and rearward movements in opening and closing thereof. Thus, assuming that the overall adjustable bracket assembly functions as intended, the rearward end of the drawer slide duringthe drawer movementis, within the predetermined limits, horizontally freefloating and the drawer slide can thereby move to compensate for any. misalignments or irregularities in :the

drawer construction.

Oneof the primerequisites therefore, for afreely adjustable or free floating form of rear drawer slide bracket assembly is thatan actual freely slideable condition of thebracket member on the mounting member is maintained over a long period of timenobviously, any binding in the bracket member slideable movement on the mounting member will prevent the intended freely adjustable movement ofthe drawer slide rearward end and frustrate the entirepurpose of the adjustable bracket assembly. Furthermore, themajor cause of bindingbetween thebracket and mounting members is misalignments between themembers and this danger can be eliminated by constructing the slideable engagement therebetween so as to maintain at all times proper alignment of the bracket member on the mounting member.

Complimentary to the foregoing requisite is the preference that the parts of the adjustable bracket assembly, the mounting member and the bracket member, be retained assembled in their final properly functioning form during the original installation of the bracket assembly on the drawer frame so that the workman, during such installation, is only required to handle a single integral assembly without concern that the various parts thereof will become disassembled and misaligned during such installation. This maintenance of proper assembly is, of course, important after the installation and during use in order to maintain the proper alignment to eliminate any possibility of binding as previously discussed. Still further, although it is desirable to satisfy the foregoing requisites, it is equally important to provide the adjustable bracket assembly for a minimum of material and labor cost so that, despite the retention of assembly between the mounting and bracket members once the same are assembled, such assembly must be of a simple and convenient procedure requiring a minimum of time and expense.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a bracket assembly for use as an adjustable reardrawer slide bracket and the like wherein the assembly includes inter-engaged parts between mounting and bracket members thereof which maintain the bracket member at all times properly aligned and freely slide able on the mounting member, thereby eliminating dangers of binding therebetween to ensure proper functioning as intended. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bracket member includes a preferably rectangular slide portion longitudinallyslideably received in a similarly rectangular, but longitudinally elongated, rearwardly opening groove of the mounting member, a bracket portionof the bracket member extending forwardly through a limited Opening of the mounting member. Engagement means, preferably inter-engaged flanges, are transversely engaged between the mounting and bracket members permitting the relative longitudinal slideable movement therebetween while maintaining proper alignment, but resisting rearward separation of the bracket member slide portion from the mounting member groove.

It is a furtherobject of the present invention to provide a bracket assembly for use asan adjustable rear :drawer slide bracketand thelike wherein the mounting and bracket members thereoflon-ce originally assembled, are retained at all times in such assembly, both during original installation .and during use. Again, the engagement means between the mounting and bracket members once accomplished retains such members properly assembled so thatduring installation :of the overall bracket assemblyby a workmamthereisnordifficulty of multiple partswhich canbecomeldisassembled andthere isno danger that the .properassembled relationshipbetween the mountingand bracketmembers willnot'be maintained in the finally mounted assembly. This thereby provides for easeof installation and ensures that the proper relationshipbetween the mounting and bracket members will be maintained throughout use of the bracket assembly.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a bracket assembly for use as an adjustable rear drawer slide bracket and the like wherein, despite the convenience and positiveness of proper assembly between the mounting and bracket members as supplied by the engagement means provided therebetween, these mounting and bracket members are easily originally assembled and do not require the use of any special assembly tools or complicated procedures. In the preferred form including the previously discussed transversely inter-engaging flanges between the mounting and bracket members, such members are formed of plastic having the physical qualities such that the members are relatively rigid in free standing form, but are somewhat flexible when specifically directed forces are applied thereto. Thus, with the maintenance of proper production tolerances, the bracket member is merely inserted and snapped into assembly in the mounting member, the flexibility permitting the respective flange inter-engagement, while such flange inter-engagement resists separation between the mounting and bracket member unless deliberate forces are specifically directed with the intention of accomplishing such disengagement.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings which are for the purpose of illustration only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a prospective view showing a rear drawer slide bracket incorporating the principles of the present invention in finally mounted position operable for supporting a drawer slide; I

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view, looking in the direction of the arrows 2-2 in FIG. 1',

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view, looking in the direction of the arrows 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a slightly enlarged prospective view showing the bracket assembly of FIG. I removed from its mounting surface and exposing the rearward portion thereof; and

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged, fragmentary, prospective view showing the bracket assembly as positioned in FIG. 4, but with portions thereof in vertical section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST EMBODIMENT CONTEMPLATED Referring to the drawing, a preferred embodiment of the bracket assembly of the present invention is shown as including a mounting member generally indicated at and a bracket member generally indicated at 12. The mounting and bracket members 10 and 12 are each preferably unitary and are preferably formed by molding from plastic such as high-density polyethylene, having some self-lubricity qualities well known to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, these two unitary components of the bracket assembly preferably form the entire of a single assembly with the exception of fasteners and the like used for final mounting thereof as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The mounting member 10 is preferably longitudinally or horizontally elongated presenting a generally rectangular configuration in forward or rearward appearance and includes longitudinally spaced thinner end portions l4 longitudinally separated by a forwardly thickened and longitudinally elongated central portion 16. A rearward surface 18 of the mounting member 10 formed by the end portions 14 and a part of the central portion 16 is uniformly flat adapted for mounting abuttment against a forwardly facing surface of a usual drawer frame 20. Furthermore, each of the end portions 14 has a transversely or vertically elongated fastener opening 22 formed therethrough for receiving usual fasteners, in this case, wood screws 24 to secure the mounting member 10 to the surface of the drawer frame 20, the mounting again to be hereinafter further discussed.

A longitudinally elongated groove 26 is formed in the rearward surface 18 of the mounting member 10, which groove opens rearwardly and is generally rectangular in rearward appearance so as to be U-shaped in transverse cross-section with transversely or vertically spaced border portions 28 and longitudinally or horizontally spaced, closed end portions 30. In view of therectangular configuration of the groove 26, the border portions 28 extend longitudinally parallel and the closed end portions 30 extend transversely parallel. It should be further noted that the groove 26 is formed totally within the central portion 16 of the mounting member 10 and with the increased thickness of this central portion presents a front wall 32 of slightly reduced dimensions from the overall longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the central portion 16.

Within this groove front wall 32 of the mounting member central portion 16 is formed an opening 34 communicating with the interior of the groove 26 and forwardly through the mounting member central por' tion 16. The opening 34 is likewise longitudinally elongated and generally rectangular preferably extending transversely nearly to the border portions 28 of the mounting member central portion 16. Important, however, is the fact thatthe opening 34 extends longitudinally only a portion of the longitudinal distance of the groove 26, preferably being positioned longitudinally central of the groove longitudinal extent.

Equally important, and as best seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the border portions 28 of the mounting member central portion 16 are formed with transversely inwardly extending flanges 36 spaced rearwardly of the front wall 32. The flanges 36 are preferably longitudinally central of the groove 26 extending longitudinally approximately one half of the groove longitudinal extent, but nevertheless extending a substantial portion of said groove. As is clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 5 the flanges 36 in their inward extent angle approximately 30 away from the vertical plane of the front wall 32 and then angle back outwardly and rearwardly to the rearward surface 18 at an angle of approximately 30 to a horizontal plane for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The bracket member 12 includes a preferably generally rectangular slide portion 38 and a transversely elongated and forwardly projecting bracket portion 40. The slide portion 38 is of slightly less forward and rearward thickness than the depth of the groove 26 in the mounting member 10 so as to present a flat rearward surface 42 and a flat forward surface 44 except for the forward projection of the bracket portion 40. Furthermore, spaced forwardly of the slide portion rearward surface 42 and extending forwardly to the forward surface 44, the slide portion 38 is formed at transversely spaced and longitudinally extending edges 46 thereof with generally right angled, outwardly projecting flanges 48 dimensioned to forwardly and rearwardly interfere with the mounting member flanges 36 but receivable forwardly thereof within the groove 26.

The bracket member slide portion 38 extends longitudinally a spaced lesser distance than the mounting member groove 26 but a greater distance than the longitudinal extent of the mounting member opening 34, while the bracket member bracket portion 40'is only approximately one-third the longitudinal dimensions of the mounting member opening 34. Thus, with the transverse dimensions of the bracket member bracket portion 40 slightly less than the transverse dimensions of the mounting member opening 34, and with the bracket member slide portion 38 within the mounting member groove 26 projecting the bracket member bracket portion 40 through the mounting member opening 34, the flanges 48 of the bracket member slide portion 38 may engage forwardly behind the mounting member flanges 36. These inter-engaged flanges 36 and 48 will, therefore, retain the bracket member 12 from rearward movement out of the mounting member groove 26 while maintaining longitudinal alignment between the mounting and bracket members and 12 during longitidinal slideable movement of the bracket member within the mounting member groove as permitted by the mounting member groove being longitudinally enlarged over the bracket member slide portion and the mounting member opening 34 being longitudinally enlarged over the bracket member bracket portion 40.

During manufacture of the bracket assembly formed by the mounting member 10 and the bracket member 12, after proper molding of the respective members, the members may be assembled despite the interference of the respective flanges 36 and 48 due to the particular described formation of these flanges combined with the fact that the mounting member 10 is formed of a material providing the mounting member border portions 28 slightly flexible, in this-case formed of plastic. Such assembly is accomplished merely by projecting the bracket member bracket portion 40 forwardly through the mounting member opening 34 and forwardly forcing the bracket member slide portion 38 into the mounting member groove 26, the bracket member flanges 48 engaging the transversely inwardly facing angledsurfaces on the border portions 28 or the mounting member flanges 36 and forcing these mounting member border portions 28 flexibly outwardly to permit the inter-engagement of the respective flanges 36 and 48 as previouslydescribed. The bracket member 12, therefore, withthis transversely outwardly resilient flexingof themounting member border portions 28 snaps" into final position within the mounting member groove 26 and is retained therein longitudinally slideable by the inter-engagement of the flanges 36 and 48.

It shouldbe kept in mind, however, that in order to provide the maximum simplicityof construction and manufacture of the mounting member 10 and bracket member 12 having the above described simple and convenient snap" final assembly, it is only necessary that either the mounting member flanges 36 or the bracket member flanges 48 be in and of themselves flexible or mounted on flexible members such that resilient flexing is permitted to interengage the respective flanges with the resilience returning the flanges to original positions for inter-engaging and preventing rearward movement of the bracket member slide portion 38 rearwardly from the mounting member groove 26. In the preferred, embodiment shown, although both the mounting member flanges 36 and the bracket member flanges 48 are somewhat resiliently flexible as are the remainders of the mounting member 10 and bracket member 12 due to all of the same being formed of a relatively rigid, yet slightly resiliently flexible plastic, the mounting member flanges 36 can be said to be transversely resiliently flexible by virtue of the flexibility of both these flanges and the mounting member groove border portions 28 With the aid of the angular formations of the mounting member border portions 28, the mounting member border portions 28 flex transversely outwardly due to the transverse outward pressure on the mounting member flanges 36, all of which permit the "snap" engagement of the overall mounting member and bracket member assembly, the mounting member returning to original shape to retain this final assembly while still efficiently guiding the bracket member 12 in its longitudinal slideable movements within the mounting member groove 26.

It is also pointed out that although in the particular embodiment shown, the longitudinal movement of the bracket member 12 within the mounting member groove 26 is determined as to the longitudinal limits thereof by abuttment of the longitudinally spaced ends of the bracket member slide portion 38 against the end portions 30 of the mounting member groove 26 while the mounting member opening 34 is sufficiently longitudinally large to eliminate abuttment of the bracket member bracket portion 40 with the mounting member 10, the reverse could be true. In other words, the size of the mounting member opening 34 could determine the longitudinal limits of movement of the bracket member 12 by the bracket member bracket portion 40 engaging the limits of this mounting member opening. It is preferred however, to provide the particular interrelated structure of the mounting and bracket members 10 and 12 as shown and described so as to relieve stresses on the lesser thickened sections of the bracket member bracket portion 40 and the mounting member central portion 16 around the opening 34 by closing the longitudinally spaced ends of the mounting member groove 26 to provide the longitudinal limits of movement for the bracket member slide portion 38.

After the assembly of the mounting member 10 and bracket member 12 into the overall final bracketassembly as described, the bracket assembly is ready for mounting on the forward surface of the drawer frame 20. This is accomplished by relatively closely aligning the mounting member 10 both longitudinally and transversely, and then engaging the fasteners or screws 24 through the mounting member fastener openings 22 and intothe drawer frame 20. During final tightening of the screws 24, the mounting member 10 is exactly as possible transversely aligned withthe desired vertical level of the rearward end of a drawerslide as shown in FIG. 1, the entire purpose of thebracket assembly, of course, being to support this drawer slide rearward end during forward and rearward drawer movement wherein the drawer slide serves as at least part of the support for the drawer in the conventional manner.

Still further, in this overall positioning of thebracket assembly on the drawer frame 20, the bracket assembly will be positioned longitudinally or horizontally so that i the drawerslide 50 may rearwardly telescope over the bracket portion 40 of the bracket member 12 when this bracket portion is approximately midway longitudinally of the mounting member opening 34.

Thus, according to the principles of the present invention, a bracket assembly is provided by the assembled mounting and bracket members 10 and 12 which forms a secure support for the rearward end of a drawer slide 50, yet permits the drawer slide rearward end to float longitudinally for slight misalignments of drawer forward and rearward movement. During such floating support of the drawer slide during such drawer movement, the bracket member 12 is maintained in assembly with the mounting member 10 and ensured of free slideable movement thereon by the inter-engaged flanges 36 and 48 between the assembled mounting and bracket member parts of the assembly so as to, in turn, ensure proper floating drawer support throughout the use of the drawer. Despite the unique and positively functioning attributes of the bracket assembly of the present invention, the bracket assembly is still of a maximum simplified form and one which is not only easy to manufacture and then assemble, but one which is likewise easily mounted in view of the slideable bracket member 12 being securely retained in proper assembly .with the mounting member 10 by these interengaged flanges 36 and'48.

I claim:

1. In a bracket assembly for use as a rear drawer slide bracket and the like, the combination of: a mounting member adapted for rearward mounting of a rearward surface thereof against a mounting surface, said mounting member having a generally longitudinally extending groove formed therein opening rearwardly through said rearward surface and defining transversely spaced and generally longitudinally extending parallel groove border portions on said mounting member, a bracket opening formed through said mounting member communicating rearwardly into said groove and forwardly through said mounting member, said opening having longitudinal dimensions less than longitudinal dimensions of said groove; a bracket member having a rearward slide portion longitudinally slideably positioned in said mounting member groove with a rearward surface generally. aligned with said mounting member rearward surface and having a bracket portion positioned projecting forwardly from said slide portion through said mounting member opening longitudinally movable within said opening, said slide and bracket portions each having longitudinal dimensions spaced less than the respective of said mounting member groove and opening permitting longitudinal slideable movement of said bracket member in said mounting member groove and opening; engagement means including longitudinally extending flanges between said groove border portions of said mounting member and said slide portion of said bracket member transversely interengaged permitting said longitudinal slideable movement of said bracket member relative to said mounting member while resisting rearward movement of said bracket member slide portion from said mounting member groove and rearwardly through said groove rearward opening; atleast parts of said mounting and bracket members at said engagement means being formed rigid in free standing condition while being flexible upon a flexing force being exerted thereagainst for rearward separation of said slide portion of said bracket member from said groove border portions of said mounting member by said flexing force.

2. The bracket assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said mounting member groove also defines longitudinally spaced and generally transversely extending parallel groove border portions on said mounting member longitudinally closing said groove for longitudinally and transversely enclosing said bracket member.

3. The bracket assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said groove border portions of said mounting member including engagement means flanges thereon are formed of a plastic rigid in free standing condition while being flexible upon a flexing force being exerted thereagainst; and in which said engagement means flanges formed on said groove border portions of said mounting member release said resisting of said bracket member slideable portion rearward movement rearwardly through said groove rearward opening upon said flexing force being exerted causing flexing of said groove border portions of said mounting member.

4. The bracket assembly as defined in claim 1 in which each of said mounting member and said bracket member is formed unitary of a plastic rigid in free standing condition while being flexible upon a flexing force being exerted thereagainst; and in which said groove border portions of said mounting member flex transversely releasing said engagement means flange interengagement and permit said bracket member slideable portion rearward movement rearwardly through said groove rearward opening upon said flexing force being exerted. 

1. In a bracket assembly for use as a rear drawer slide bracket and the like, the combination of: a mounting member adapted for rearward mounting of a rearward surface thereof against a mounting surface, said mounting member having a generally longitudinally extending groove formed therein opening rearwardly through said rearward surface and defining transversely spaced and generally longitudinally extending parallel groove border portions on said mounting member, a bracket opening formed through said mounting member communicating rearwardly into said groove and forwardly through said mounting member, said opening having longitudinal dimensions less than longitudinal dimensions of said groove; a bracket member having a rearward slide portion longitudinally slideably positioned in said mounting member groove with a rearward surface generally aligned with said moUnting member rearward surface and having a bracket portion positioned projecting forwardly from said slide portion through said mounting member opening longitudinally movable within said opening, said slide and bracket portions each having longitudinal dimensions spaced less than the respective of said mounting member groove and opening permitting longitudinal slideable movement of said bracket member in said mounting member groove and opening; engagement means including longitudinally extending flanges between said groove border portions of said mounting member and said slide portion of said bracket member transversely interengaged permitting said longitudinal slideable movement of said bracket member relative to said mounting member while resisting rearward movement of said bracket member slide portion from said mounting member groove and rearwardly through said groove rearward opening; at least parts of said mounting and bracket members at said engagement means being formed rigid in free standing condition while being flexible upon a flexing force being exerted thereagainst for rearward separation of said slide portion of said bracket member from said groove border portions of said mounting member by said flexing force.
 2. The bracket assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said mounting member groove also defines longitudinally spaced and generally transversely extending parallel groove border portions on said mounting member longitudinally closing said groove for longitudinally and transversely enclosing said bracket member.
 3. The bracket assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said groove border portions of said mounting member including engagement means flanges thereon are formed of a plastic rigid in free standing condition while being flexible upon a flexing force being exerted thereagainst; and in which said engagement means flanges formed on said groove border portions of said mounting member release said resisting of said bracket member slideable portion rearward movement rearwardly through said groove rearward opening upon said flexing force being exerted causing flexing of said groove border portions of said mounting member.
 4. The bracket assembly as defined in claim 1 in which each of said mounting member and said bracket member is formed unitary of a plastic rigid in free standing condition while being flexible upon a flexing force being exerted thereagainst; and in which said groove border portions of said mounting member flex transversely releasing said engagement means flange interengagement and permit said bracket member slideable portion rearward movement rearwardly through said groove rearward opening upon said flexing force being exerted. 